Posts in “Faith”

My heart aches for what’s happening in my city, Houston. Six years ago, I came to Houston from the Philippines, so it was my first home in the United States. It was devastating to see what Hurricane Harvey did to my city. I’ve been through several situations with big typhoons and floods in the Philippines, ever since I was a kid. I know from experience how sad and chaotic it is for the families and everyone in Houston, affected by the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. My family is safe and I’m thankful that my husband urged me to leave Houston a day before the Hurricane arrived. I am also thankful that my mother-in-law is with us. She’s been helping us a lot ever since I gave birth to my third son. She drove us to her home in Dallas to take care of us, especially my boys. I can’t imagine how terrifying it is to experience flooding if you have kids and/or a newborn during this kind of calamity. Today, I shared some organizations you can help and share your blessings with for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.

Impact Houston Church – This is the church that we attend. They are located in the inner city of Houston and always help the less fortunate, especially the homeless. Donations such as baby formula, diapers for babies, cases of water, non-perishable food items, hygiene items like toothbrushes and toothpaste, are all needed. See a full list of needs here. You can donate money as well. See the quick link on their website.

We finally came home with our new blessing! All of us have fallen in love with him, especially his older brothers. I’m excited to share today’s post about our newborn son’s birth, and a few helpful ways on how to get through the pain of labor and delivery. So let me begin before my baby wakes up. 😉

An appointment

Earlier this month, my doctor told me that she wanted to schedule an induction for me because I was expecting to have a big baby (much bigger than my two older sons). I had a bad experience with induction from my first pregnancy. I was given Pitocin, an induction medication, which caused me a lot of pain and discomfort. I also felt the staff were in a hurry when I was given it. That is why I asked about stripping membranes or membrane sweeping. This is what I had done with my second son. I’m thankful that my doctor was cool and respected my decision. On the morning of my child’s birth, around 9am, I had the membrane sweeping done. It caused me to have more Braxton Hicks contractions and spotting afterwards. I heard that sometimes this method doesn’t work too. That’s why I kept praying that the membrane stripping would lead to a strong contraction and I’d start going into labor.

The plan

I had been telling my husband for the past few months that I wanted to stay at home for most of my labor. In the afternoon, I felt such strong Braxton Hicks contractions that I needed to do some breathing to ease the discomfort. I was still hesitant if they were real or not, since I had experienced false labor over the weekend. I began timing the contractions, but felt I’d rather do something to distract myself, like laundry or chasing my kids. 😉 Around 4:30 pm, I texted my husband who was at work, about my strong Braxton Hicks contractions. He told me to tell him whenever I wanted him home, so I decided to time how many minutes apart my contractions were. At 5pm, I counted 7-8 minutes apart. Thirty minutes later, it became 3-4 minutes apart… This was when I felt I was getting sick, so Brent decided to leave work. I tried distracting myself between contractions by making dinner for my two toddlers. At 6pm, the contractions were 3 minutes apart. In my head, I was like, “Where are you Brent!?” lol I felt a little worried, but having the kids around distracted me from the pain. When Brent finally got home, I headed straight to a warm shower, which helped a lot during contractions. Around 7pm, we started prepping to head to the hospital. We contacted our good friend who picked up our kids to take care of them. She and her husband are amazing!

My contractions became stronger, so my breathing made me sound like a cow! Haha! Brent said, “We need to go. That’s how you sounded like before.” However, I said to Brent that I could still handle it, and that I bet the contractions were only 4 cm. I started to lay down on my side on the bed, and grabbed Wilson, my tennis ball. I also grabbed one of the Bible verses I wrote on a piece of paper. When our friend arrived, it was time to say goodbye to my boys. I wanted to be emotional, but with so much pain, I didn’t have time to cry. lol

The drive-thru

Brent had been supportive of my decision to stay a little longer at home during labor, but I decided to go to the hospital since I felt he was getting worried seeing me in pain. It was dinner time and I knew it would be a long night for both of us, so I told Brent we needed to get food as we hadn’t eaten dinner yet. It’s a good thing there was a Whataburger close to the hospital. We went into the drive thru, and ordered burgers and chocolate malts (malts are like shakes). When Brent was picking up the food at the window, I remember him telling the girl working there, “My wife is having a baby. She’s in labor.” I heard the girl was like, “And why are you picking up food?!” My husband answered, “Well, she wants to!” Yes, I totally did want to! Oh, boy! Drinking a cold, sweet chocolate malt powered up my body between contractions! That was the best decision we made that day! Sweets sometimes do good for the body, right? 😉

At last, we made it to the hospital and parked far from the entrance, so I needed to stop while walking a few times during my contractions. I was like, “Where’s the wheelchair??” Brent wanted to make sure the door was open so he left me for a few seconds to check. The strong contractions cams again… I wanted to lay down on the sidewalk, but there were a few people around and I didn’t want them to call 9-1-1 thinking I needed emergency care. Haha! Thankfully, Brent came back quickly.

You got this far

It was around 8:30 pm when we reached the labor/delivery room. I was already on the bed having contractions continuously saying to Brent that I thought I was only at 5 cm, and that we were too early. Then, one of the nurses checked my cervix and saw how far along I was; 8 cm! The nurse asked me if I wanted an epidural, but before I answered, one of the other nurses (her name is Dyana and she took care of me all through night) suddenly said “You already got this far!” That made me feel confident and so I said “No, thank you” to the epidural. During the strong contraction, I knew that at anytime I could be pushing so I asked my husband to get a few things for me inside my hospital bag. I asked him to pick a Bible verse that says “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,” and a couple pictures of my family. They really helped me mentally.

Here he comes

After just a few minutes, I could feel that I was ready to push… It was so painful and so I screamed, “Aray ko po!!!” I realized no one could understand the words I said because it was in Tagalog. I screamed again, “Ouch! It hurts!! I’m ready to push!” The doctor came in and the nurses became busier, preparing for me to deliver the baby. Brent was so helpful, staying beside me and guiding by breathing pattern. In the 5th contraction, I did the last push and finally, out came our precious son. All the pain was worth it when I held him!

It is the best and most unforgettable feeling to experience giving birth to a baby. Even though this was my third time giving birth, it felt like it was my first. This was the first time that I didn’t ask for an epidural when I reached 8-9 cm. I often asked them in the end from my previous deliveries, but with the help of God, my supportive husband, and people who inspired me to do a natural birth (sister-in-laws and my Houston friends), I finally made it. I’m actually surprised how it was less painful than I thought it’d be. Maybe it’s because this was my third time, but I’m pretty sure it was less painful than taking Pitocin. I was also surprised how the recovery after delivery was not as hard as I thought. If you are an expecting mom or planning to give birth one day, here are the things that helped me get through the pain:

Breathing – Brent was really good at teaching me how to breath the right way when I was in labor. He told me to take a deep breath, hold it for 4 seconds, and breathe out for a few seconds.

Wilson – He wasn’t another man! Haha! Wilson is a tennis ball! I’ve been using it since I had my first son. I liked squeezing it as much as I could when my contractions came.

Bible verses (find them here) – I have a good friend from church who lent me this book that talks about Bible verses for labor and delivery. She gave me the idea to write them down and bring them me to the hospital. I stuck the paper beside my bed and would read a Bible verse when a contraction came. I closed my eyes and kept saying the verses inside my mind. It really amazed me how God’s words are so powerful. Praying and reading Bible verses for this kind of situation really works! You can totally feel His power through these scriptures.

Visualization – On the way to the hospital when I was having contractions, Brent told me to picture that I was by the ocean and seeing big waves. There were many times in the delivery room as well that I visualized that Christ was standing beside me wearing white clothing… I know it might sound weird to others,but it is truly effective to think about Jesus during painful times. There was a point when I thought about how Christ sacrificed himself and the pain to he went through for us. I also thought of someone I know who is in need and imagined that all the pain I experienced during labor was an offering to God, so that he would help that person repent, and change his heart.

Labor at home – It’s good thing that we live only a few minutes away from the hospital so I could do most of my labor at home. There are a lot of things I could still do there, rather than staying in a hospital room. If I had been in Manila during labor, I don’t think I would’ve been able to stay at home longer or I’d end up giving birth in the middle of a traffic jam. 😉

Thank you again to those who helped us out from the beginning of my pregnancy; family members, church friends, Brent’s co-workers, our Houston friends, Filipino friends, and mom bloggers I have met on social media. You all are blessings to us! Have a great weekend ahead! I’m now off to take a nap…

I always thought that I would be in labor for this pregnancy early in my third trimester since this is my third child. Yet here I am, still waiting and wondering when he’s coming out. I just turned 39 weeks pregnant and I’ve been anxious lately about being in labor, especially when I found out that the baby is around 10 lbs! Yes! 1-0. I don’t know why I was surprised because all my boys were big babies when I delivered them, but if the technician was right, my third baby will be the biggest of them all! To keep calm while waiting, I’ve continued to read Bible verses, which my good friend shared with me, for labor and delivery. Here are a few of them that I wrote on a piece of paper, and I’ll bring them with me to the hospital.

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh, is anything too difficult for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

“I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things to me”Psalm 57:2

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee”Isaiah 41:13

“So do not fear, I am with you; do not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will upload you with my righteous right hand”Isaiah 41:10

“I can do all things through HIM who strengthen me.”Philippians 4:13

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation come from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”Psalm 62:1-2

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28

“Do not be afraid, Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today”Exodus 14:13

Do you have other favorite Bible verses that make you feel strong, both mentally and physically, during painful times like labor?

By the way, I have also partnered with JORD wooden watches to giveaway $100 to use on their website. One lucky winner will win and be able to choose his or her favorite watch style! However, everyone who enters will receive a consolation prize worth $25, once the contest ends. I got a watch that is part of the Frankie series, in Dark Sandalwood & Smoke, and I love it! The contest will close August 27 at 11:59pm. Both the $100 and the $25 codes will expire on 10/31/2017. Enter h e r e to join!

When I moved to Houston from the Philippines in 2011, I found my very first friends at Impact Church of Christ. This was the church Brent and I attended while he was in grad school. Brent and I love this church so much, not only because of the wonderful, diverse people, but also because their main objective is to help people who are less fortunate. Impact helps everyone, from children to the elderly.

Over the weekend, some ladies from Impact threw a baby shower for me and my baby boy #3. Brent and I already have a name for him, but we’d like to wait after he’s born to share it. Even though the weather was so hot outside, they pampered me with sweet treats (good thing Brent was not around…*wink) and delicious foods! Here are some photos from the shower and some of the sweetest gifts that my baby boy received.

(Photos from my good friend, Karla.)

This is Caroline, one of the hosts of my shower. I loved this game. It’s called “Baby Match Game.” You pick two numbers and see if they have the same words written on the back of the post-it. For example, let’s say #3 and #19 both have the words “Twin Boys.” If you choose both those numbers back-to-back, you’ll get candies that correspond with the words. For “twin boys” the candy was “Mike and Ike”. Memorization is the key to find the matching words and win candy!

How cute is this?! These are customized shirts made by my good friend Ashli, who owns Christian Grace Embroidery. Thanks, girl! I can’t wait to take photos of my boys wearing these!

My boys got this handmade step stool too! How talented is Susan?! Having 3 boys will be a BIG adventure that awaits us. 😉

We felt so showered with love from you all! From Brent and I, thank you!

I’m finally excited to share with everyone that we are expecting our third child this year! We had told some people when I was in the Philippines (Brent and I decided to share the good news in-person first, then on social media), but I think now is a good time to officially share this blessing with everyone, and it’s my birthday week! I’ve been feeling great since I hit my second trimester. No morning sickness at all. Although, I still can’t stand the smell of coffee… Sorry, coffee lovers…

Was this planned or was it a surprise, you ask? I’ve been praying to God to bless us with another child to add to our family, so nope. It was not a surprise. Haha! Brent knows that two kids are little in number for me. 😉 Last year, was a challenging one with our second child because of his bad reflux, colic, and waking up before 6AM daily. It was also sometimes challenging to take care of a baby and toddler close in age, but it is true that these kind of challenging moments will disappear one day. When I try to look back and remember those moments, I honestly can’t remember the feeling. I know I was exhausted and I do remember it was so hard for Brent and me. But here we go again, starting another chapter with a new addition to our family. It’s weird to me that I don’t feel anxious and nervous thinking about taking care of two toddlers and a newborn… Maybe I should be, but right now, I’m just too busy with my two boys and focusing on parenting them before the new baby comes. I also believe that all I can do is trust God and His plan for this new little one.

Happy weekend and happy birthday to me! I’ll be enjoying a piece of cake! Sorry, Baby!

As my kids grow up, I want them to know what the true meaning of Christmas is. I know they will be more excited to see the gifts for sure, but I think as a believer of Christ, it’s a perfect gift for Him; sharing His stories to children and teaching them that He is the reason for Christmas. Today, I’m sharing our Christmas countdown calendar for toddlers, which does just that. It was inspired by Pinterest. Although, some of the activities below are improvised depending on what my kids will be excited to see and do. Each day, in addition to their Christmas activity (whether it is simple or requires more effort), I’m planning to read a Bible verse to them. Here’s what’s inside each paper bag, and the fun, inspiring activities for the kids to learn about the true meaning of Christmas. Enjoy!

Dec 1: A printed photo of the kids for a DIY Salt Dough ornament with photo. (Recipe from h e r e). Read: John 1:1-5.

Dec 2: Inside is a plastic ball (can be a Pom Pom or any type of small, round object). The activity will be a ball sorting stand. (Inspired by this). I used an old diaper box and made holes for the balls. I drew (you can print out pictures too) of characters from Jesus’ birth like Mary, the Star, Sheep etc. I will ask them to find a character like, “Find the mother of Jesus.” Then I will have them insert a ball in the matching hole. Read: Isaiah 9:2-7

Dec 3: Lego figurine of a boy (young Jesus) with a colorful string on the waist (symbolic of righteousness), a brown tape sash that says “faithful,” and small toy animals. I will use these to simply tell the story from Isaiah 11:1-10.

Dec 4: A bandana to use as a cape for kids. My kids love to do the Superman (photo of us like this), so I thought of this activity for them to show that Jesus is our true hero and savior, sent by God to save us from our sins. Read: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Dec 5: A note that says “Water a plant.” My kids love to do this, especially with their Lola (grandmother) right now, so I thought this would be a great way to explain the verse in Bible Verse to Read: Luke 1: 5-10. It tells about how John the Baptist was born. He was the one who baptized Jesus in the river. If you don’t have a plant (Why wouldn’t you!? Haha Kidding!), you may use a bowl of full of water and use plastic toys to simply demonstrate what John the Baptist does.

Dec 6: Cotton balls. Prepare a drawing of an angel on a piece of paper where kids will stick the cotton balls on the wings (using glue or tape).

Read: Luke 1:11-17 Angel show to Zechariah and tell that Elizabeth will have a baby. Tell them that God sent angel to tell the good news about Elizabeth will have a baby.

Dec 7: A balloon. I thought of using a balloon to put it inside my front shirt, to create a baby bump. 😉 My kids are excited to see a baby bump, especially when they see my sister who is pregnant right now. I will use this simple activity to teach about Luke 1:18-25 where Elizabeth was pregnant with John. You may put the name “John” on the balloon too if you’d like. While doing this balloon baby bump activity, I will share how everything is possible with God. Even though Elizabeth was old, she still became pregnant with John who was chosen by God to baptize Jesus himself.

Dec 8: A dry erase marker. I will do the “Mirror Lesson” to demonstrate how God chose Mary to give birth to Jesus who washes away our sins. I will let my kids scribble or draw whatever they want on the mirror. Full instructions here. This is going to be a fun activity!! Read: Luke 1:26-38 Angel Visits Mary

Dec 9: A note that says “Open a gift under the tree.” My kids love to listen while we read books to them, so I got them a new book about Christmas. Read: Matthew 1:18-21

Dec 10: Cotton balls, and a piece of paper with a big letter “J” (teaching them Jesus starts with the letter J). The kids will put the cotton balls on the lines to follow the letter “J”. (Similar to h e r e). Read: Matthew 1:22-25

Dec 11:Your child’s baby photo. I will share how God blessed their dad and I with them! Read: Luke 1:39-45 to explain how baby Jesus came from Mary, but Jesus was the son of God. They have oneness.

Dec 12: Glitter pen for coloring, which is cheap at Walmart! I’ll use a piece of paper with an outline of the letter “J.” I know. I love using J. It’s because this activity is all about Jesus! 😉 Then, we’ll play a worship song. Read:Luke 1:46-56

Dec 13:Use Pom Poms to insert in the hole in a box (Similar to here). Read: Micah 5:2-5 Jesus gets strength from God. The Pom Pom as sign of strength that God is giving.

Dec 14: Cloth (like baby wrap) and old white socks for my kids to draw a face on. Then they’ll put other socks inside (Similar to here). We will play and use the socks as “Baby Jesus” while reading Luke 2:1-7. Joseph needs to go back to Bethlehem. He was with Mary and she was about to give birth. She gave birth in a manger.

Dec 15: Make angels out of Popsicle sticks and put cotton balls on the wings (Similar to here). Read: Luke 2:8-12 Good news! Angels appeared to the shepherds and told about Jesus’ birth.

Dec 16: Put a note saying, “It’s Music Time!” or an egg shaker, something small for creating noise. We will play and sing a worship song with our flute, ukulele, shaker. Read: Luke 2:13-14 Angels in heaven praise God and rejoice for Jesus’ birth!

Dec 17: Small paint bottle. We will create a hand-painted Christmas tree (Similar idea). Read: Luke 2:15-18 Shepherds visit Jesus in the manger. Teach them that God chose shepherds to see Jesus first. His choice was not based on their position or status in life.

Dec 18:Put letters that says Jesus. Use a big bowl filled with fake snowflakes or gift fillers and have the kids search for the letters inside the container. Then, spell it out after they all the letters. (Similar to h e r e). Read:Luke 2:19-20 Everything the angels told the shepherds happened. They were amazed!

Dec 19:Star and Tree Cookie Press. I will use play dough to play with these presses, while reading Matthew 2:1-2 Magi worship Jesus. They saw the star.

Dec 20: A letter “B” magnet that we have. You may just make a simple cutout or write on a piece of paper. I will show them things inside the house that begin with letter “B.” I will also use the Bible and show a picture of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Read: Matthew 2:3-6

Dec 21: A star cutout from cardboard (I will make 2 since I have two kids). I will have them put Pom Poms on the stars with glue. Read: Matthew 2:7-8 Herod wants to kill the Messiah. The star appeared at the exact time when Jesus was born.

Dec 22: On a piece of paper, write down what the kids thank Jesus for. I wonder what my eldest will say… Maybe “fire truck…” or “goldfish…” Put it on a container and put it under the tree. This is a beautiful act, serving as a gift for Jesus. Read them together next Christmas, and do it again! (Similar idea here). Read: Matthew 2:9-12

Dec 23: Put a note that says “Watch the birth of Jesus.”(I love using Youtube for this, I only show them up to 26:26.) Read: Matthew 2:19-23 Return to Nazareth

Dec 24: Put a note that says “Go to the bathtub” Surprised your kids with some red and green balloons in the tub, maybe do this on Christmas Eve!!! (Similar idea). Read: John 1:1-4 Word became Flesh (Jesus)

Anyone else doing a Christmas countdown? How do you teach your kids or the kids around you about the true meaning of Christmas?

Happy Thanksgiving to you! Unfortunately, we aren’t celebrating Thanksgiving with my husband’s family in Dallas this year since we moved to Houston. This year, we are happy to celebrate it in a simple way with my family. Today, I want to share what I am thankful for. I am thankful for these things not only today, but everyday! This is not my complete list, but here are my favorites!

My Husband – I am thankful for having my husband Brent, and his understanding, patience and continually loving me, even when I’m in a grumpy mood. 😉 I am also thankful for him being the father of my two loving and handsome boys. Well, God made them, but I’m thankful for Brent’s handsome genes and his IQ…

Playful Kids – I thank them for teaching me to learn to be more patient and control my emotions. I am so thankful for their hugs, smiles, giggles, and the times my eldest son says, “I love you, Mama.”

Daily Challenges – I thank God for letting me experience challenges with my family, myself, or spirituality. These problems teach me to depend on Him and not only on the people around me, nor on materials things. This has helped me grow closer to Him.

God’s Word – I am thankful that now I’m 30, I’m learning God’s words by reading the Bible. His words feeds me in my weakness and temptations. I thank God for His word because it helps me discern between what is right and wrong. I also feel thankful that I’m learning to share His Word with my kids and hopefully, to the people who follow my blog.

What are you thankful for? Let me know in the comments section. I always love hearing from you.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OREOThinSide #CollectiveBias

I’m finally done organizing my work station, AKA my “me time station.” Having this area gives me a space to relax, blog, work, and reflect.. I’ve always believed that it is healthy for moms to have time for themselves. It’s important to have the time to keep yourself healthy, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. I love my kids and I try to stay active with them during the first part of the day, but once it’s naptime… yahooo! Mama Time starts! (Insert dance move.) 😉 Instead of napping, which I rarely do, I chose to go back to do something I used to love before I became a mother. I’ve been going back to the days when I was an artist and have started painting. It makes me feel like I’m in college again!

I thought about what I wanted to paint and decided on an abstract painting, with inspiring words from Colossians 3:2. I love the message of this verse: “Set your mind on things above.” It actually cut right through my heart when I read it for the first time. I knew this would be a perfect reminder for me, especially around my work station, to balance life, work, and family and to focus on the things God wants for me. Today’s partnership is with OREO, one of my favorite snacks ever since I was younger. Keep scrolling to learn to easily make your own inspirational painting.

Step 2: Use a small foam brush to even out the blue paint all over the canvas.

Step 3: Next, squeeze white acrylic paint on top of the blue paint as shown in the picture above.

Step 4: Use a small, flat brush to brush off the white paint in a horizontal motion. Do this to create a blend/blur effect between the blue and white paints.

Step 5: I added more white paint to the bottom of the canvas to create a transition from light to darker blue across the canvas. I dampened a small foam brush with water, then squeezed the foam to remove excess water., I then used downward brushstrokes, followed by leftward brushstrokes, to create texture (see image below). Do this in a fast motion. Also, don’t forget to paint the side of the canvas. After you’re done painting, let the paint dry

Here’s a close-up of the brushstrokes and the texture. The stroke I used was inspired by the texture of a “banig,” which is a handwoven mat in the Philippines. You can follow this brushing style if you’d like, but since it’s an abstract painting, I think it’s more fun to follow your own feelings on what kind of brushstroke to use for your painting

Step 6: While waiting for the paint to dry, write or print the text you would like to use on a piece of paper. Then start shading the back of the paper you’re using with a pencil. Make sure you press hard with the pencil so the graphite will transfer onto the painting.

Step 7: Center the paper on the canvas and tape it on all four corners. Start tracing the text with a pen or pencil. Remember to trace firmly so that the pencil transfers onto the canvas. You may touch-up the text drawing to make it more visible if needed.

Step 8: Start to fill the traced text using white acrylic paint. I used a small detail brush for small areas and a flat brush for wider areas. Tip: I like to mix a little bit of water with the acrylic in the palette for smoother application on the canvas. I put 2 coatings of white paint to make the color more opaque and brighter.

Step 9: You’re done! Hang on a wall or lean on a shelf or desk to add inspiration and good vibes for your home.

Thanks to OREO for keeping me company while doing this painting. I enjoyed eating their thin and crispy cookies, which I grabbed from my nearest Kroger grocery store.

How do you enjoy your “me time” moments?

Be sure to check out other fellow bloggers’ fun and inspiring stories here!

Hello Island Mama is a makeup, DIY, design, and lifestyle blog by Em Smith. She is the mother of two boys and a wife, who loves to inspire and encourage others through her works and stories. Originally from the Philippines.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

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